As Dr. Purvis points out in The Connected Child, nutrition is important for all children — and especially so for children from hard places. Dr. Purvis explains, however, that “it’s not always obvious that a child is missing out on complete nourishment.”

Recognizing that many adoptive and foster families face various food and nutrition-related issues, the Spoon Foundation and the Joint Council on International Children’s Services have launched a new online resource — www.adoptionnutrition.org — that focuses on nutrition for adoptive and foster families.

As explained on the adoptionnutrition.org website, “While foster and adopted children may appear healthy on the outside, they may very well be deficient in key nutrients that could impact future growth and brain development. These deficiencies develop because many vulnerable children do not receive proper nutrition in their early years.” In response, this online resource offers a broad range of information and advice that is helpful for both pre- and post-adoptive and foster parents.

Parents must always be mindful to look at their children holistically — body, soul and spirit. In doing so, it is important to understand and meet the needs of your child’s body, including your child’s nutritional needs. The new adoptionnutrition.org website can help adoptive and foster parents do just that.